I recently discovered [for myself] the magical [free] tool that is Google Calendar.  You guys!  I freaking love it.  In fact, I’m a little obsessed at the moment, especially with color coding everything.

So the back story (because there always is one!) goes a little something like this.  When I first got my iPhone over two years ago, Vishnu convinced me to download and use the Gmail app.  And at the time, it was all the rage.  So for the past two years I was solely using that.  And don’t get me wrong, it’s a great app.  But it doesn’t have a calendar feature.  Even that wasn’t an issue because I used my work Outlook calendar as my personal calendar as well.

Then earlier this month it dawned on me – I wanted to share a calendar with Vishnu so that we could map out his shifts at the hospital as well as his upcoming interviews and all of our upcoming travel.  And I couldn’t do that with my Outlook calendar.  I turned to my trusty friend Google for a solution.  And of course, Google told me about it’s very own tool!

I got really excited and started reading guides on how to to ensure your Google calendar syncs with the calendar on your phone.  After deleting the Gmail app and tinkering with a few different settings, it worked!  Everything was showing up just as I wanted on my phone.

The next step was to invite Vishnu to “co-own” this calendar with me.  And because I couldn’t contain my excitement, I shared it with him that very day.  I also named our calendar “ParVish.”  Creativity is my middle name…what can I say!?

When we saw each other later that night, I told him all about what I had done.  Let’s just say he wasn’t as excited about this discovery as I was.  NBD because I was excited enough for the two of us.  In fact, when he mentioned something about one of his interviews, I told him to put it on the ParVish calendar.  This wasn’t enough to generate action…just a head shake.

Well, this past Saturday Vishnu experienced the beauty of having a joint Google calendar with his wife.  He was on his laptop, when all of a sudden he turns to me with a confused look on his face.

Vishnu: Why did I just get an alert about this volunteer event that starts in 30 minutes?
Me: Oh that’s my thing.  You’re seeing it because of our joint calendar!  Cool, huh?
Vishnu: I don’t really want to see all of your things.  Is there a filter?
Me: Absolutely not!  That’s the whole point.  Just ignore it if it doesn’t apply to you!
Vishnu: Well, at least put all my stuff in one color, so I know what’s for me and what’s for you.
Me:  Ok, will do.

Fast forward to earlier this week…

Me: Oh, just FYI…I color coded our calendar so that all of your stuff is in bright red!
Vishnu: Bright red?  Red signifies danger.
Me: [Silence]

I can’t win.  But at least he’s kind of on board with the idea!